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Firebird is generally pretty boring, but as far as higher tier GR go and pushing the leaderboard it actually requires a great amount of skill and tactical gameplay. On that front I really enjoy it. I think Blizzard really put itself in a box with the mechanic though, because the damage output is so consistent that you basically just cast fire on everything and let things burn until death. It's really hard to offer styles of play that can be as competitively consistent.

My hope is that whoever is responsible for balancing the Wizard class will really take a look at Delseres, Vyrs, and Tal Rashas to really hone in and offer four uniquely different yet balanced levels of gameplay. Find a way to make it so that no set really outshines the other and start with Firebird as a base. Once you hone in on that, then maybe branch further out with newer sets and balancing some legendaries in the mix.

The Tal's suggestion in the post above mine seems like a no brainer. All elemental damage should equal your highest. That alone would go a huge way to improve the set. Also, no meteor casts on breakable objects.

Rank 9 so quickly. Guess I'll have to push harder. Grats Jaetch!

Finally found a good sunkeeper and was finally able to break into GR42!! Rank 6 America.Once I was able to farm 42 stones on my DH I was able to get a lot of practice and once the stars aligned it really paid off. Being able to use 10 keystones in a row really gets you into a groove, and I think it makes a HUGE impact on success rate.

Kind of sad I had to abandon my serpent sparker, but thems the breaks. I feel like the only way I could manage that is to find a good TnT and a useable cindercoat with hydra damage. My DH found a trifecta TnT with 50% attack speed, and it is hard to complain about that but was really hoping I'd land that on INT for wizard.

Now I have to find a way to beat 43...

Should I be using a witching hour instead at that point? Used SoE up until now, and I feel the mitigation is useful but it is really hard to tell. I guess I'll have to experiment with it more.

Finally broke through and finished tier 41 today with a serpent sparker and blazing hydra. Tried 42 for the first time and was pretty overwhelmed. Gonna need some more practice and good RNG to finish that one. Not really sure what else I can do gear wise except get some good T&T and level them paragons. Found two T&Ts but both were trash unfortunately.

Kind of feel like I've peaked, but I am going to keep pushing.

So I thought my serpent sparker was pretty top notch, but was really having trouble breaking level 39 with it. I finally got a gift for my furnace and then I proceeded to wreck 39 first try and almost beat 40 despite the furnace being pretty average.

Kind of disappointed. I really want the serpent sparker to be dominant, especially since I am so please with the rolls, but couldn't seem to make it work. I was even use Blazing Hydra and 15% damage from shoulders (which doesnt affect mammoth).

Maybe if I find a good TnT I can make it work. It seems like the biggest inconsistency is that with a furnace build you don't care about APS at all, but with the serpent sparker variety attack speed affects the hydras so it becomes useful.

My other thought is to try out the gale wind twister over apocalypse...

Quote from Venaliter

Quote from Jaetch

6. Hydra positioning just involves placing it a distance away from the target to maximize Zei's output. That's all. It's incredibly easy to set up, the trail stacks on top of one another, and you can also recast Hydra to bypass its APS.

I had NO idea Hydra damage was increased by Zei's. I have been placing the Hydra as close as posssible to the mob so the fire always nailed him. It's worth it to recast Hydra every time he shoots to reset the APS then, as well?

Boy, was I doing it wrong.

You would think that hydra damage would be based on how far away you are from the monster, not how far the hydra is. Has this been tested?

I am going to have to try out bane of the trapped now. But I need convincing, why efficacious toxin over bane of the powerful?

Would it also be a good idea to put in Wreath of Lightning on my follower to add more elemental exposure? Does that work? I am using fire spells and cold damage on my serpent sparker for 10% extra damage.